Well construction



Feb. 20, 1945. .1. R. BE-r'rs WELL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 26, 1942Patented Feb. 2o, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL CONSTRUCTIONJohn Ri Betts, Kearney, Nebr. Application October 26, 1942, Serial No.463,372 9 Claims. (Cl.` 10S-229) The present invention relates toimprovements in well construction and more particularly an improved footvalve and suction pipe assembly for use with pumps of very largecapacity such as are required for irrigation.

An object of the present invention is t'o provide an improved unitaryfoot valve and suction pipe assembly which can be readily inserted intoand removed from the well at any time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsuction pipe construction in whichprovision is made for sealing theassembly to the rest of the well after the suction pipe has been loweredin position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a foot valve andsuction pipe assembly of extremely simple construction which can beproduced from standard parts with a minimum cost.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent froma consideration ofthe accompanying specication, claims and drawing, in which Figure 1 is avertical sectional view showing one form of my suction pipe and footvalve construction, and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a modication of myimproved foot valve and suction pipe construction.

The present invention is a continuation in part of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 309,817,

led December 18, 1939, for Variable capacity pumps, now Patent No.2,299,734, issued October 27, 1942. I'he present application isconcerned with the improved foot valve and suction pipe constructiondisclosed in Figure 7 of said copending application and originallyclaimed in said application. The present application is also concernedwith an improved modification of this suction pipe and foot valveassembly.

Referring to the ldrawing for a more detailed understanding of theinvention, the reference numeral 48 is employed to indicate a liningtube for the well. Welded to the lower end of the liner 48 is a ring 49,trapezoidal in cross-section. Disposed on the trapezoidal ring 49 is agasket 50 of a rubber composition. This gasket is generally oftriangular cross-section. vAn annulus is provided with a sleeve 52extending downwardly and screw-threadedly connected to the ring 49.

Thel gasket 50 which is preferably of the kind known in the trade as aDresser gasket is compressible by turning the annulus 5| on the. ring 49so as to screw sleeve 52 into ring 49. Extending through the sleeve 52is the upper end of a suction pipe 56. pipe 56 is turned over to providea ange 58 which rests on the annulus 5I to support thesuction l'pipe andfoot valve. At its lower end, the suction pipe 56 is provided with asand screen 51. At the juncture of the conical screen 51 and the suc-The upper end of the suction tion pipe 56 is a foot valve 59 with aguard 60 to prevent displacement of the foot valve. foot valve 59 whichis in the form of a ball is seated upon a valve seat 6| threadedlysecured on the collar 62 within the suction pipe 56.

The annulus 5| is provided with a bail 63 which may be grasped -by anysuitable tool either for turning the annulus or for hoisting the suctionpipe and foot valve assembly out of the well through the casing 48.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the entiresuction pipe and foot valve assembly can be readily, removed from thewell at any time by turning the bail 63 until sleeve 54 has becomedisconnected from the ring 49 and then raising the baill 63 out of thewell.

The arrangement of Figure 1 is primarily designed for wells'of smallerdiameter. In Figurcz,

I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention which incorporatescertain of the advantages of the species of Figure 1 but which iscapable of being employed with wells of relatively large diameter, suchas wells having a -bore of from 10 to 32 inches in diameter.

Referring to Figure 2, the reference character 66 is employed toindicate a well liner corresponding to the liner 48- of Figure 1. Thisliner rests upon an annulus |I which in turn is supported by a sandscreen l0. Secured to the lower interior portion of the liner 66 is aring 61 of triangular cross-section. This ring is turned to conform withthe shape of a Dresser gasket 68 of a rubber composition. The Dressergasket 68 is secured over bell-shaped member 69 which is secured to asuction pipe 10 corresponding in function to suction pipe 56. A conicalscreen 1I is l section 69 is a, plate 12 which is provided with aplurality of apertures with which are associated check valves 14. Thesevalves may be of any of various constructions. As illustrated, each ofthe valves 14 comprises a valve plate 15 slidable upon a stem 16. Eachvalve pla-'te 15 is biased to closed position by a spring 11. The valvesare mounted within open cages 18 which allow free exit of the waterpassing upwardly beyond valve plate 15.

A bail 8|) is secured to the plate 12 and hence to the suction pipe 10by any suitable means of fastening such as being sealed toplate 12. Itwill be obvious that the entire assembly comprising suction pipe 10 andthe valves 14 which function as foot valves, can be raised by raisingthe bail 80.

Due to the relatively large size of the well in which the suction pipeand foot valve construction of Figure 2 is employed, the weight of thesuction pipe and foot valve assembly is sumcient to maintain the gasket68 properly seated under normal conditions. If for some reason thevalves l 14 tend to stick in closed. position, the entire assembly willraise off of its seat to relieve the pressure. In other words, the"dresser` gasket 68 and the ring 61 will function together as a valve tosupplement the action of valves 14.

ated with said suction pipe, and a gasket having an inclined outer facedisposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclinedsurface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring andwith said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe and checkvalves, said suction pipe and valve assembly having sufficient mass toretain themselves in operative relation on said ring.

6. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured within the lower end ofsaid casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly andinwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by `said ring, upwardlyopening check valves assoinside said casing and welded thereto, theupper l surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, agasket seated on said ring and having a downwardly and inwardlyinclinedv lower surface and a flat upper surface, a hollow cylinderhaving an annular fiat fiange at the upper extremity thereof, thearrangement being such that said cylinder may be inserted through saidring with saidI annular flat flange seated on the flat upper surface ofsaid gasket.

2. In combination, a weli casing having a ring extending inwardlyadjacent its lower end, the upper surface oi' said ring being downwardlyand inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and havingan enlarged upper end and a closure member for said upper end, anupwardly opening'check valve secured in said closure member, and agasket having an inclined outer face disposed between said ring and saidsuction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging theinclined surface of said ring and with the gasket supporting the weightof said suction pipe.

3. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured. within the lower endof said casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly andinwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring, upwardlyopening check valves associ.. ated with said suction pipe, and a gaskethaving an inclined outer face disposed between said ring and saidsuction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging theinclined surface of said ring and with said gasket supporting the weightof said suction pipe and check valves.

4. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured within the lower end ofsaid casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly andinwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring, an upwardlyopening check valve associated withsaid suction pipe, a gasket having aninclined outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipewith the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surfaceof said ring-and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suctionpipe and check valves, and screw threadedmeans for compressing saidgasket.

5. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured within the lower end ofsaid casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly andinwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring, upwardlyopening check valves associciated with said suction pipe, a gaskethaving an inclined outer face disposed between'isaid ring and saidlsuction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging theinclined surface of said ring and with said gasket supporting the weightof said suction pipe and check valves, said suction pipe and valveassembly having sufflcient mass to retain themselves in operativerelation on said ring without any fastening means, and a bail secured tosaid suction pipe for facilitating the lifting of said suction pipe andvalve assembly.

7. In combination, a well casing having a ring extending inwardlyadjacent its lower end, the upper surface of said ring being downwardlyand inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and havingan enlarged upper end and a fiat closure member for said upper end, acircular row of upwardly opening check valves secured in said closuremember, and a gasket having an inclined outer face and a horizontalupper face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with theinclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of saidring and with the flat closure member engaging the horizontai upper faceof the gasket so that the iatter supports ,the weightl of said suctionpipe and check valves.

3. In combination, a well casing having a ring extending inwardlyadjacent its lower end, the upper surface of said ring being downwardlyand inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and havinga projecting portion overhanging said ring, and a gasket having aninclined outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipewith the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surfaceof said ring and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suctionpipe, said suction pipe having sufcient mass to maintain itself inoperative position on said ring without any fastenng means.

9. In combination, a well casing having a ring extending inwardlyadjacent its lower end, the upper surface of said ring being downwardlyand inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and havinga projecting portion ov rhanging said ring, a gasket having an incllredouter face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with theinclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of saidring and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe,said suction pipe having sufilcient mass to maintain itself in operativeposition on said ring without any fastening means, and a bail secured tothe upper end of said suction pipe for lifting the same.

JOHN R. BE'I'IS.

